I've been trying to setup standalone Arduino on a breadboard but I cannot get uploading to work. I've been following the tutorial at http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Standalone with the exception that I've got USB2Serial adapter from Arduino store (this one http://store.arduino.cc/eu/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=143).

When I try to upload a sketch I get the following error:avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

The Atmega328P I ordered is preloaded with the Optiboot bootloader (at least that's what the electronics store said on their store page).

When I press the reset button, the led attached to digital pin 13 blinks twice, so I think the microcontroller is working properly. When I try to upload, the RX led on the USB2Serial board flickers for some time, but I think the Atmega is not reset (at least the led on pin 13 does not blink).

There seem to be some conflicting info on the net how the automatic reset should be wired. I added a pull-up resistor to the Atmega reset pin and connected the EXT reset pin of the USB2Serial via a 0.1uF capasitor to the reset pin. Is this correct?

Another possibility is that the Atmega is not loaded with a bootloader. Is there a way to verify that the bootloader is present?

The way you describe the reset circuit sounds correct. When you press the reset button and the D13 LED flashes twice that sounds like the bootloader is present.If you try to upload a sketch does the D13 LED blink twice the same as when the reset button is pressed? If it does then this would indicate the auto reset is working.Have you tried swapping the RX/TX wires? It's impossible to see where they are connected on the USB2Serial adaptor and you may have them the wrong way round.

I might seem like an idiot but remember it takes one to know one.Forum user generally fall into three categories (the good, the bad & the a**hole) what category do you fit in?